Interesting read, but too focused on electric guitar. As the article admits "starting in 2010, the industry witnessed a milestone that would have been unthinkable during the hair-metal era: Acoustic models began to outsell electric". I'd say this is partly a you-tube effect. It is much easier to be a youtube act with an acoustic rather than an electric, and this century's guitar heroes like Andy McKee have proven this.

I'll go further out on a limb and say that the dizzying array of options for electric guitar (just the sheer number of effects pedals let alone amps with built in effects) could freeze a purchase decision indefinitely, whereas acoustics are still just acoustics (for the most part). As a beginner, it would be a really daunting task to figure out what kind of electric setup to get.

I'll toss in that today's first time purchaser probably lives in less square footage and an acoustic is easier to drag from couch to couch, apartment to apartment, than a Marshall stack.

All those ideas have merit. Music and the popularity of different instruments seems to move in cycles. Presently the banjo is popular in country music while the pedal steel guitar is not. A few years ago swing bands were popular and if you have a daughter you may remember boy bands like New Kids On The Bock. John Coltrane, Kenny G and Junior Walker popularized the saxophone while Al Hirt and Herb Albert featured the trumpet. You use to hear instrumentals but now you rarely do unless you see the local on the 8's segment of the Weather Channel.

I didn't read the article but I read a great book called "The Death of Music". It's about how mp3's are going a long way to killing the idea of selling recorded music. It's not a dead industry yet but it could be on its way. As to the topic, I think acoustic guitars are more versatile. You can play a pretty, soft song and a "rock" song. Plus you can take them anywhere. Paul McCartney said if had to pick one instrument to play it would be the acoustic guitar (you'll have to hunt Youtube for the interview).

But, the main reason I am here is to thank you Jim for listens and comments on my song. It's a few months old now so I won't bump it up with any more thanks.

A distorted electric guitar will always be the quintessential sound of rock-n-roll to me and many others. There are enough young people who feel the same to give me hope that it’ll stay that way in spite of current sales trends and the ever ephemeral pop scene.

Casually peruse YouTube and you’ll see that there’s a whole new generation of rockers doing their own thing and pushing the proverbial envelope to startling new levels while being firmly rooted in the traditions of those who came before.

All those ideas have merit. Music and the popularity of different instruments seems to move in cycles. Presently the banjo is popular in country music while the pedal steel guitar is not. A few years ago swing bands were popular and if you have a daughter you may remember boy bands like New Kids On The Bock. John Coltrane, Kenny G and Junior Walker popularized the saxophone while Al Hirt and Herb Albert featured the trumpet. You use to hear instrumentals but now you rarely do unless you see the local on the 8's segment of the Weather Channel.

YUP and as a sax player/vocalist, it's tough to get a gig with a band while the crowd loves you and what you do, the band considers you a "luxury" and just another mouth to feed. Cue the solo act with tracks!!